ABSTRACT
Objectives To investigate the clinical significance of CYP2C19 genotype detection for antiplatelet therapy of elder cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases(CCVD).Methods We enrolled all elderly patients with either cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders who received clopidogrel as mono drug or in combination with another antiplatelet drug aspirin as secondary prevention for more than 12 months in our hospital from January to August 2015.Somatotypes of CYP2C19 genotypes of all participants were assessed to analyze the relapse of cardiac-cerebral vascular diseases in these patients.Results A total of 250 patients were enrolled,including 179 male and 71 female,with average age of (85.2 ± 7.9) years.Among these patients,there were 97 (38.8％) cases with EM CYP2C19 genotypes,110 cases(44.0 ％) with IM CYP2C19 genotypes,43 cases(17.2 ％) with PM CYP2C19 genotypes.When treated with clopidogrel for antiplatelet in secondary prevention process,the rate of the relapse in cardiovascular event was 34.9％ and higher in PM CYP2C19 genotype than in EM and IM CYP2C19 genotype (19.6 ％ and 15.5 ％,respectively) (x2 =7.251,P =0.027).This phenomenon was similar to patients who received stent implantation(x2=6.393,P =0.041).However,no statistically significant difference was observed in the recurrence rate of cerebral vascular disease between three different genotypes(EM 29.9 ％,IM 20.0 ％,PM 27.9％,x2 =2.880,P =0.237).Conclusions Our results highlight that CYP2C19 genotype might be a potential guidance for secondary prevention of cardiovascular and cercbrovascular disorders among elderly patients.Clopidogrel may be less effective in patients with SM CYP2C19 genotype than those with EM or PM CYP2C19 genotype for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effects and safety of bevacizumab monotherapy on radiationinduced brain necrosis in patients with head and neck cancer.Methods Twenty-three patients with radiation-induced brain necrosis received intravenous injection of bevacizumab 5 mg/kg every 2 weeks for 4 cycles.Before and 2 weeks after the treatment LENT/SOMA scoring system,Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA),and MRI were used to evaluate the scores of subjective and objective items,cognitive scores,and the extent of edema.Adverse effects were observed.Results Two patients suffered from grade 2 rhinorrhagia after the first dose and had to give up the therapy.Twenty-one patients received the full dose of bevacizumab and showed improvement in clinical signs and symptoms.The MoCA score after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (t =3.166,P ＜ 0.05).MRI T2-weighted image showed that the volume of brain edema was decreased by (53.9 ± 22.13)％ on average (Z =-5.645,P ＜0.05).One patient showed mild exacerbation of the extent of focus on MRI after the second cycle therapy but still showed significant improvement at the end of four cycles.Of the 21 cases that successfully finished the whole treatment,one suffered from grade 2 rash and one had mild intracranial hemorrhage,however,no grade 3 to 5 adverse reactions were observed.Conclusions Bevacizumab monotherapy may have a rapid and safe therapeutic effect on radiation necrosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the clinical measurements for preventing and curing epistaxis in patients irradiated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma by analyzing the related factors. Methods:Thirty patients irradiated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and consequently presented epistaxis were retrospectively reviewed by analyzing the clinical characteristics and measurements. Literature review was also performed. Results:Twenty-two cases were successfully rescued, and eight cases died (mortality rate:26.6%). Twenty-five cases underwent inflation sponge packing hemostasis, whereas three cases underwent endoscopic hemostasis with cauterization. Five patients underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and selective arterial embolization. For patients who underwent one irradiation course, the epistaxis latent period ranged from 3 to 12 years, and the amount of bleeding ranged from 200 mL to 1 200 mL. For patients who underwent more than one irradiation course, the epistaxis latent period ranged from 6 months to 3 years, and the amount of bleeding ranged from 300 mL to 8 000 mL. Conclusion:Packing through choanal atresia by using inflation sponge, cautery under endoscopy, DSA, and selective arterial embolization are useful and effective measurements for hemostasis. The epistaxis latent period and volume are related to the age, tumor stage, and ir-radiation course of the patients. Patients with advanced age, tumor stage, and more than one irradiation course have short latent period and high amount of bleeding.